US Open Cup - semi final round-ups and reactions

• Seattle Sounders reach 4th successive US Open Cup Final
• Sporting Kansas City will host final on August 8th
• Chivas USA and Philadelphia Union still await first titles

Jack McInerney (L) hears that Philadelphia Union's number is up in the US Open Cup. The newly potent Union attack could not find a way past Sporting Kansas City's MLS-best defense in Wednesday's semi-final. Photograph: David Bernal/ISI/Corbis

So, after improbable USL Pro team runs, last minute Chivas heroics and Cal FC fairytales, the US Open Cup went back to the script. Seattle Sounders made their fourth consecutive US Open Cup Final, having won the previous three, where they will face a Sporting Kansas City side so determined to land some silverware of their own that they have outbid perennial Cup Final hosts, Seattle, for the right to home field advantage on August 8th.

Seattle were 4-1 winners over Chivas USA, with the margin slightly flattering, but the result the correct one, while Sporting sealed their 2-0 win over Philadelphia Union with an injury time goal from Graham Zusi that typified their counter-attacking coolness on the night.

Now the 2004 cup winners will host the defending champions, in a final that will have an edge before a ball has been kicked, with the Sounders for once not contesting the Cup final in front of their vociferous home support, due to a bidding process for hosting games which has often favored the financial and organizational commitment of the Sounders, but which for once has not gone in their favor.

The USSF announced the Cup Final venue permutations earlier this week, with Sporting's victory on Wednesday night ensuring that regardless of the result in Seattle the final would be at Livestrong Sporting Park, after their bid package had beaten out that of Seattle's owners, as well as those of Philadelphia and Chivas. Seemingly, the Sporting KC bids and Seattle bids were identical, with the result decided by a "coin flip" - much to the disappointment of Seattle Sounders' owner Adrian Hanauer. In an interview with the Seattle Times after the decision, he stated:

I still think the Open Cup is broken. It's my personal opinion. I think that it can be so much more as a tournament with a bunch of concerted effort and brain power and some money thrown at it.

Hanauer's viewpoint has its sympathizers, though such has been the Sounders' recent success that those sympathies might fall short of wishing a "fourpeat" for his side in Kansas City. For the neutral though, this might be the optimum scenario: one of the USA's showpiece soccer-specific stadiums hosting a final between the modern day cup specialists and a team who briefly threatened to sweep all before them this season - and may yet do so. If Seattle win, after winning away against league front-runners San Jose in the quarter-final and then having to overcome SKC in their own back yard, they'll eliminate many of the caveats that still persist around their formidable cup run. If Sporting win, Peter Vermes young side will have a trophy to mark their progress and momentum for the second half of the season - where they'll hope to secure a second bout of home field advantage in the MLS Cup.

One historical glitch to that scenario though - Sporting Kansas City have never beaten Seattle Sounders at home...

Philadelphia Union 0-2 Sporting Kansas City

In the earlier semi-final at PPL Park, a hyped up crowd had turned out in anticipation of cheering on the home side to their first final of any variety. If the crowd expected a blood and thunder cup tie though, they were to be disappointed. This was a cagey affair with McInerney for Philadelphia and Bunbury for Sporting, the only out and out attackers for their teams, as both teams whether in possession or not, played the kind of formation we expect of 4-3-3 sides without the ball. Cagey stuff then - and a compacted midfield.

Despite Adu's ongoing, and in fairness, upwardly trending, attempts to string his moments of inspiration together into consistent form (wriggling clear of Myers a number of times in the first half and continually looking the most likely Union player to do something facing goal with the ball at his feet) this game had the look of one that would be decided by set pieces. That suited the team boasting the dead ball prowess of Graham Zusi and the throws of Matt Besler. Zusi in particular found his range with a series of free kicks that crept closer and closer to causing havoc in the Union box, until just past the hour mark, from just inside the Union half, he floated a free kick onto the head of the unheralded Jacob Peterson, whose soft glancing header looped goalwards. Seeming to withdraw his hand in anticipation of the ball drifting harmlessly wide, a horrified Zac MacMath instead watched the ball float into the corner of the net.

The Union pressed forward but having kept things tight in the first half, they grew ragged in pursuit of an equalizer and with the space that opened up, the pressure was Philadelphia's but the best chances were Sporting's. The Union had their chances: had Pajoy dug the ball out from under his feet, on a lovely through ball from the clever Michael Farfan at the end of the first half, or Adu not rushed a half volley high and wide in the 89th minute, the outcome could have been different. But a couple of minutes after that latter chance, with Union bodies committed forward, Macmath rushed out to greet a long ball pumped out of the Sporting defense. He misjudged the bounce however and could only send his header as far as that man Zusi in the center circle. The All Star midfielder looked up, took aim, and lofted a sweet long range shot into the unguarded Union net, with MacMath stranded. Sporting celebrated. Philadelphia were out.

Seattle Sounders 4-1 Chivas USA

As fortresses go, the Starfire Complex in Tukwila, WA has a deceptively homely appearance. Dense, tall trees surround the pitch and frame the equally densely packed supporters sections - giving proceedings the air of an English non-league game that has somehow been transposed to the setting of the Augusta Masters course. Occasionally a train rolls through behind one of the goals. But these bucolic surroundings have given rise to one of the more remarkable winning streaks in modern US Cup history, as team after team has visited, and been dispatched, during Seattle's reign as US Open Cup champions. Coming into Wednesday night's game, Seattle had outscored opponents 31-5 in an 11 game unbeaten streak at the complex. Make that 35-6, at the end of this latest 90 minutes.

Cheered on by a crowd whose intimate proximity to the pitch makes for an intimidating atmosphere, despite the attendance being a tenth of the Seattle's usual home crowds, the Sounders refused to be lulled by Chivas's usual early attempts to stifle the game to a tempo that suited them. Chivas had chances in that opening period - Villafana whipping a wicked looking cross between the defenders and goalkeeper on 21 minutes, that flashed across the box without being met. But when Eddie Johnson opened the scoring on 31 minutes, with an emphatic run and finish, the outcome never looked in serious doubt.

Even when Romero bundled home with just over quarter of an hour to go, to cut the deficit opened up by Alonso's fashionably delicate penalty just after half time, it only served to briefly disturb the Sounders fans' sense of expectation, if not entitlement. Nine minutes later, with memories of a couple of long range Montero efforts foremost in his mind, Chivas keeper Dan Kennedy stayed on his line with Montero on the edge of the box, only to see the striker turn and roll the ball to his right for the onrushing Brad Evans to put the game beyond doubt. The final goal, 5 minutes later, was cruel on Chivas, who had been spirited without being threatening - under pressure, Villafana was dispossessed in the box by Ochoa, who then executed a tight turn and shot that wrong footed Kennedy and set off raucous Seattle celebrations. They're one game away from the "fourpeat" and momentarily, the fact that that game will be played away from home, was forgotten, as the Cup run - a reliable bright spot in a variable season - continued to its final destination.

Reactions to the semi-finals

We'll have reactions to the cup games from some of our regular MLS previewers for the winning clubs, as they come in

I think going back to Philly after the last game (SKC lost 4-0 in Philadelphiaa few weeks ago) and then coming back with this result, showed the dedication we'll need to win some championships. I thought they looked like they were in control tonight. There were a couple of missed opportunities, but we ultimately capitalized with the Peterson goal - it's great to see a player like that contributing in that way after all the work he's put in, away from the spotlight this season. Jimmy Nielsen, of course, came up with some good saves. Just shows you what a stingy defense this team has. And every time you see Zusi over the ball, you think there's a good chance that it's going to go in. This team has really found a way to score goals off set pieces, whether it's Besler's long throws or Zusi's free kicks.

Before the season there was a clear dedication from the top down to bring some championships home and this Cup campaign was part of that. We've had our ups and downs since the start of the season when we were streaking past teams easily, but to see these guys focus when it's important is incredibly positive and encouraging for the rest of the season.

I think home field advantage in the final is absolutely crucial. All you have to do is look at Seattle over the last 4 years. Playing at home in front of your supporters - if you ask the guys on the team, that's what fires them up more than anything. I think about watching my team securing the Cup at home in 2004 - it's one of those moments that secures you as a fan for the rest of your life. Watching your team win in your own stadium. Do I mind that it's Seattle in the final? No - a lot of people want them. We want to take it to them.

Someone figured out how to stop the surging Philadelphia Union attack. The Union lost 2-0 to Kansas City to end their U.S. Open Cup run, and the game turned on a second half goalkeeping mistake by Zac MacMath that let in a soft first goal before a stoppage time empty netter sealed matters. Philadelphia showed few ideas on the night. Their lack of height was apparent, as Kansas City dominated the aerial game defensively. With center back Matt Besler back in the lineup for Kansas City, the gaps between the center backs that were there in Philadelphia's surprise 4-0 win over Kansas City on June 23 were nowhere to be found Wednesday night. Jack McInerney and Michael Farfan were unable to connect on the low through balls that have driven the attack recently, and Aurelien Collin and Besler intercepted all attempts to go over the top. An ineffective Lio Pajoy left the game early, removing the Union's best aerial threat and rendering Union corner kicks an exercise in futility. Kansas City didn't play a great game, but they made no fatal mistakes, unlike the Union.

Tonight the sounders proved they want the fourpeat. The degree of seriousness and concentration during this match was something to see. Excellent ball possession. Excellent spirit and energy and a degree of swagger that we had not seen the Sounders display for a long time. There is always something special that comes out of Starfire matches and we in the ECS all hope that this will carry over into both the Final in KC and MLS play. The ECS already has tickets for sale for the away match for the final in KC in August. Our plan is to bring as many as possible despite difficult travel arrangements and a midweek match. The ECS and the Sounders want to be a part of history and we want that 4th USOC trophy.

No matter the form displayed by the Seattle Sounders in MLS play, during the Open Cup they are a different beast. If you are the type that believes that athletes need confidence, this team oozes it in America's knockout tournament. Or this could be a demonstration of a team that understands how to win on the peculiar pitches that pop up in the Cup. Whether at Starfire, Kezar, or Jeld-WEN, the Sounders play better on those smaller fields. Many think that the small fields accent speed play, but in this case the ability to close the small spaces mean that a raw direct game can be trumped by better on-ball skills.

Wednesday night the Sounders rode the strong technical play of Fredy Montero and Osvaldo Alonso to a 4-1 victory. In a year when Seattle is trying to do something truly historical they won't have the comfort of a narrow pitch or their own beds. To accomplish history they will need to top a strong Sporting Kansas City side with six wins at home. But Seattle is clearly confident. They dominate this tournament like so few teams can do in any tournament across the globe. They will also dip into their added time success against the KC squad. History can only be made by doing extraordinary things, the Sounders have that opportunity.

Chivas USA crashed out to the Seattle Sounders Wednesday in the U.S. Open Cup semifinal round by a score of 4-1. Although Chivas put up a decent fight, they didn't have the attacking chops to compete with Seattle's firepower and were outgunned over the course of the match. It is a disappointing end to the Open Cup run for the Goats, who were hoping to make their first final in the tournament and perhaps win their first trophy as a club, but the Sounders' experience and home field advantage at their secondary venue of Starfire was too much to overcome. Despite the performance, Chivas do have to take pride in making the run to the semifinal, and for taking this competition seriously from their first match this year. In the past, the Open Cup wasn't always a priority for the organization, but they seemed to give it the respect it deserved this year. Hopefully, this run will inspire the club to return even stronger next year.